Very religious colleague

I also find this surprising It does make you think in this day and age religion should not be a protected characteristic

No it makes me think a bunch of 40 adult women in a professional environment should be able to find just one of them to tell their newer, younger colleague to stfu on inappropriate workplace questions.

Bear in mind not one single colleague has actually told this lad his questions and evangelising is not appropriate and his questions are not welcome.

And the MN response? Run to your male manager to sort it out which will be tricky as the manager has apparently transitioned to female half way through the thread.

I had to handle a situation at work. We had three employees who were very outspoken evangelical Christians and a couple of staunch atheist colleagues who enjoyed winding them up. I basically vetoed any religious talk in the office. Fine to have beliefs, not fine to go on about them at work, and that went for the atheists too. If they wanted to continue their discussion they could do it outside work time.

I'm an atheist myself but the situation was causing a real atmosphere and others were uncomfortable. One of the Christians was later let go for pushing his beliefs on our customers.

An employer has a duty to provide a comfortable and non discriminationary environment at a work place for their staff.

This is a sad and upsetting post to read OP. I am a Christian and your colleagues’s behaviour is awful. Aggressively foisting their views onto others, telling people they’re wrong and shutting them down when they disagree is just horrendous and a terrible misrepresentation of Christ and the practice of faith (which centres on love, for people of any faith and none). I am really sorry you and your colleagues have been subjected to this 😢 Please believe this is not like the practising Christians I know and have known over a lifetime. It makes me think about all the people in modern times and throughout history who have done terrible things ‘in the name of God’ basically a blanket excuse for doing whatever they wanted, unthinkable evil, hateful and destructive things. Or in this case plain rude and condescending. As if that is ok and how we should behave! It’s just wrong and I am so sorry and I hope your work can step in and have a word asap that this is not appropriate in (and, imo, also out) of the workplace.

The OP said that he’s just passed his probation.

He needs to leave your workplace ASAP

I have reread the OP’s posts. I think this is two issues. The first is that he seems to be an evangelical Christian - this is fine but it needs to stay out of the workplace.

The second is that he is young - I wonder if he hasn’t yet learned that it isn’t okay to say what you think to just anyone (or, at least, without facing some uncomfortable consequences). Young people have, in many ways, been let down - they are encouraged by their peers to give their thoughts in public and on social media with no thought to how this may be perceived by people who don’t share their viewpoint.

As I get older, I value my privacy more and more. I have lots of political / religious views that others may find quite strange. But that is okay, because they are no one’s business.

It would be a kindness for his manager to tell him that he needs to wind his neck in and that everyone religious views are private.

I'd be telling him to fuck right off. He has zero right to force his beliefs on others, and is behaving in a wholly unprofessional way by doing this.

It does make you think in this day and age religion should not be a protected characteristic. Religion is a choice other protected characteristics aren’t. If I had a philosophical belief that all puppies should be slaughtered I couldn’t go round posting pictures of puppies being slaughtered by the water fountain.

i shouldn’t know what my colleagues religion is. Religion is divisive. No sign of an individuals religion should be shown at work, at school or ideally any public place other than places of worship. Ban people knocking on your door, ban those people standing in the middle of shopping streets blaring out music trying to give versions of their self appointed one true book to people just trying to go about their daily business.

I don’t give a shit whether you worship God, Allah Zeus Lucifer, they’re all the same projections of human need..but keep it to yourself

Mentioning religion at work should be a disciplinary offence

If nothing else works get him to openly proclaim his views on transwomen. That should get him instantly sacked.

If you want Britain to end up like the USA- an evolving white, male, theocracy- then by all means don't upset the boy.
You have to push back. These views are not valid or benign.

It’s absolutely not ok for your colleague to dominate all his colleagues and affect the communal atmosphere in the office. If he can’t cope with people expressing views then he shouldn’t ask ; if he doesn’t like communal decisions on music he can use earphones. It’s irrelevant his you feel about his religion - he is being an obnoxious mood hoover and abusing his colleagues. Evangelism has no place in the workplace ! ( and I say that as a Christian).

A christening isn't God telling you what you're to be called; it's your parents telling God. (Who I don't believe in, anyway)

I have a friend who's male child is transitioning to female, another friend whio is very religious disputes his right to do this, to change his name and to live as female, fortunately she doesn't express this to his mother. I told her the law supports his wishes and he needs to be respected for his name, pronoun choices etc, she immediately said ' no, no, never mind the law, only God can say who you are and what you are called' - what I wanted to say was far from holy 🙄 instead I kept quiet and ignored it, however I wouldn't be putting up with this in a workplace.

I couldn’t cope with that OP and would have told him so by now. As for the playlist, I’d be putting on anything from Shaggy to Sabbath to Canibal Corpse on if he persists in his disapproval.😂

I hate this. Your 'beliefs' are just as valid as his, but do you push them onto him? No, because you'd probably be in trouble for it. Makes my blood boil. We can't possibly offend the believers.

Yes, he sounds difficult, but what gets me is that there is music in the office. I'd go mad. Freedom to not have to listen to music.

Why is it harassment, asking someone to explain why they are happily saying these things in a work setting . I still say challenge him .

You can take it to management/HR explain to the them his behaviour is crossing boundaries and causing unrest in your working environment.
Set a boundary yourselves to said colleague and tell him you don't wish to discuss religion or listen to his views in the workplace.
Be direct about harassment.

He needs to be reminded that gender and sexuality are protected characteristics and are therefore protected by the same laws that allow his “freedom of expression” on religious grounds. Some people seem to think that freedom of speech means the right to spout whatever bigoted bullshit you believe with no fear of repercussions. Religious bigots are the absolute worst because they are so smug and self-righteous.

I would actually not mention the music issue. We've just been reminded that our workplace doesn't have a PRS license, so we can't play the radio in the offices. Keep quiet about the music, and you might keep the radio.

HOWEVER, your colleagues are clearly much nicer people than anyone in my office. We would have told him about himself in 7 seconds flat if he'd tried that nonsense with us! Speak to your line manager, because he's creating a hostile working environment, and it needs to be dealt with before it escalates.

It's a shame people didn't start complaining about him to HR before he finished his probation ... hope others learn from that.

I think this is a good illustration of why you should go to your manager sooner rather than later. Resentment has built up to the point where you are getting snappy and rude and unprofessional, which will weaken your case.
I'd see your manager about this asap while you still hold the moral high ground :)

I'm glad you reported him and hope your manager manages this situation.

On the subject of the radio - there’s literally 40 of us. 39 of us are all happy with the songs etc that are played, it seems a shame we’d have to turn it off because he feels entitled to dictate to the rest of us -you could always be kind and get him some special ear-plugs for the office. (Are there any with Christian symbols on the box?)

Music - we play radio station, stops arguments